Posted By John Henderson On July 22, 2012 @ 5:32 am In 2012 London Olympics,Olympics | No Comments

VICHY, France – Missy Franklin earned it and she can’t wait. She’s waited so long for this opportunity and now it’s almost here.

Her first tattoo.

Yes, it’s a U.S. swim team tradition to get a tat of the Olympic rings after you make you make your first Olympic team. Franklin, 17, starts her Olympic quest for a U.S. women’s record seven medals Saturday with the 400-meter freestyle relay.

“I am going to get them and I’m so excited,” Franklin said Saturday during the team’s media day here at their pre-Olympic training camp. “I think my parents are just as excited as I am. It’s the only tattoo I would ever get.

“That’s kind of my motivation, too. It’s such an exciting part of it and seeing all the other athletes and seeing how they have that it’s so cool and it’s something that brings us all together.”

No, don’t look close during the Olympics. She’s getting them after the Games and they’re going on her right hip. She’s not worried about the pain, either.

“I’m actually really good with needles so I think I’ll be OK,” she said.